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Summary:

Boxed set: "The seasons may change, but the follies of the heart are constant in this ineffably lovely quartet of films by Eric Rohmer, one of cinema's most perceptive chroniclers of the pangs and perils of romance. Set throughout France, Tales of the Four Seasons is a cycle to stand alongside the director's two earlier acclaimed film series, Six Moral Tales and Comedies and Proverbs. By turns comic and melancholic, breezy and richly philosophical, these bittersweet tales of love, longing, and the inevitable misunderstandings that shape human relationships probe the most complex of emotions with the utmost grace"-- [Provided by publisher]
A tale of springtime: A burgeoning friendship between philosophy teacher Jeanne (Anne Teyssèdre) and pianist Natacha (Florence Darel) is strained by jealousy, suspicion, and intrigue. Natacha encourages Jeanne to pursue Igor (Hugues Quester), Natacha's father, in order to supplant Ève (Eloïse Bennett), his young girlfriend, whom Natacha loathes. Natacha's scheme, however, risks alienating those closest to her as well as entangling Jeanne in the very kind of romantic drama she has vowed to avoid. This film finds Eric Rohmer in full command of his subtle visual storytelling as he contrasts the brightness of his characters' Parisian and suburban surroundings with their conflicting desires, ideas, and temperaments.
A tale of winter: Five years after losing touch with Charles (Frédéric van den Driessche), the love of her life and the father of her young daughter, Félicie (Charlotte Véry) attempts to choose between librarian Loïc (Hervé Furic), who lives in the Parisian suburbs, and hairdresser Maxence (Michel Voletti), who has recently moved to the central French town of Nevers. In the midst of indecision, Félicie holds to an undying faith that a miracle will reunite her with Charles, a faith that Rohmer examines in all of its religious and philosophical dimensions.
A tale of summer: Based on events from Rohmer's youth, the film follows amateur musician Gaspard (Melvil Poupaud) to a seaside resort in Dinard, on the coast of Brittany. There, three women (Amanda Langlet, Gwenaëlle Simon, and Aurélia Nolin) each offer the possibility of romance, but Gaspard's inability to commit to just one puts all of his chances at love in jeopardy. The film features Rohmer's wistful observations on indecisiveness and the fickle nature of desire, as brought to life by a talented young cast in a picturesque setting.
A tale of autumn: A breezy take on the classic American romantic comedies that influenced Eric Rohmer and his French New Wave peers. Set among the golden vineyards of the Rhône Valley, the film concerns simultaneous schemes to find a new love for the reserved widow and winegrower Magali (Béatrice Romand). Her son's girlfriend (Alexia Portal) attempts to pair her with a former professor and lover (Didier Sandre), while Magali's friend Isabelle (Marie Rivière) assumes a false identity in order to lure eligible bachelor Gérald (Alain Libolt). The misunderstandings that follow are pure Rohmer in bringing out the humor in human folly.

Table of Contents:

• A tale of springtime = Contes des quatres saisons : Conte de printemps / Margaret Menegoz, Les Films du Losange présentent ; [écrit et réalisé par] Eric Rohmer (1990; 1.66:1; 107 min.)
• A tale of winter = Contes des quatres saisons : Conte d'hiver / Margaret Menegoz, Les films du Losange, C.E.R. ... présentent ; [écrit et réalisé par] Éric Rohmer (1992; 1.66:1; 114 min.)
• A tale of summer = Contes des quatres saisons : Conte d'été / Margaret Menegoz, Les Films du Losange, La Sept Cinéma présentent ; [écrit et réalisé par] Eric Rohmer (1996; 1.37:1; 114 min.)
• A tale of autumn = Contes des quatres saisons : conte d'automne / Margaret Menegoz, Les Films du Losange, La Sept Cinéma présentent ; [écrit et réalisé par] Éric Rohmer (1998; 1.37:1; 111 min.).

Contributors:

Rohmer, Éric, 1920-2010 , screenwriter, director

Menegoz, Margaret , film producer

Teyssèdre, Anne, 1960- , actor

Quester, Hugues, 1948- , actor

Darel, Florence , actor

Bennett, Eloïse (Actor) , actor

Véry, Charlotte , actor

Furic, Hervé , actor

Voletti, Michel , actor

Poupaud, Melvil , actor

Langlet, Amanda , actor

Simon, Gwenaelle , actor

Nolin, Aurelia , actor

Rivière, Marie , actor

Romand, Béatrice , actor

Sandre, Didier, 1946- , actor

Libolt, Alain , actor

Pagès, Luc, 1968- , director of photography

Baratier, Diane , director of photography

Stephen, Mary , editor of moving image work

Films du losange (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Sept Cinéma (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Compagnie Eric Rohmer , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Janus Films , film distributor, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/fds

Criterion Collection (Firm) , publisher, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/pbl

Languages:

French
English

Language Notes:

In French with optional English subtitles.

Included Works:

Conte de printemps (Motion picture)

Conte d'hiver (Motion picture)

Conte d'été (Motion picture)

Conte d'automne (Motion picture)

Related Series:

Criterion collection; [volume] 1206

Alternate Titles:

Known in French as: Contes des quatres saisons

Subjects:

Man-woman relationships — Drama

Love — Drama

Interpersonal relations — Drama

Fathers and daughters — Drama

Single mothers — France — Paris — Drama

Summer romance — Drama

Single women — France — Drama

Man-woman relationships

Love

Interpersonal relations

Fathers and daughters

Single mothers

Summer romance

Single women

France — Paris

France

Genres:

Motion pictures

Romantic comedy films

Comedy films

Romance films

Feature films

Fiction films

Drama

System Details:

Blu-ray; region A; uncompressed monaural sound.

Performers:

Cast: A tale of springtime: Anne Teyssèdre, Hugues Quester, Florence Darel, Eloïse Bennett.
Cast: A tale of winter: Charlotte Véry, Frédéric van den Driessche, Hervé Furic, Michel Voletti.
Cast: A tale of summer: Melvil Poupaud, Amanda Langlet, Gwenaëlle Simon, Aurélia Nolin.
Cast: A tale of autumn: Marie Rivière, Béatrice Romand, Didier Sandre, Alain Libolt.

Production Credits:

A tale of springtime: cinematographer, Luc Pagès; editor, Maria Luisa Garcia.
A tale of winter: cinematographer, Luc Pagès; editor, Mary Stephen; music, Sebastien Erms.
A tale of summer: cinematographer, Diane Baratier; editor, Mary Stephen; music, Sebastien Erms, Philipe Eidel.
A tale of autumn: cinematographer, Diane Baratier; editor, Mary Stephen.

General Notes:

Description based on: Title from container.
Originally released as motion pictures in 1990-1998.
Wide screen (1.66:1)
Full screen (1.37:1).
Essay by film critic Imogen Sara Smith included in booklet.
Features: A tale of springtime: Eric Rohmer on A tale of springtime (excerpts of 1990 radio interviews with Rohmer conducted by film critic Serge Daney); La sonate à Kreutzer = The Kreutzer sonata (a 1956 black and white 44 min. film directed by Rohmer); trailer -- A tale of winter: Four collaborators (new interview program recorded at Rohmer's house in Tulle, France, featuring Baratier, producer Françoise Etchegaray, sound engineer Pascal Ribier, and editor Mary Stephen); Eric Rohmer on A tale of winter (excerpts of 1992 radio interviews with Rohmer conducted by film critic Michel Ciment) -- A tale of summer: Eric Rohmer on A tale of summer (excerpts of 1996 radio interviews with Rohmer conducted by film critic Michel Ciment); The making of A tale of summer (documentary from 2005 by Etchegaray and Jean-André Fieschi) -- A tale of autumn: Eric Rohmer on A tale of autumn (excerpts of 1998 radio interviews with Rohmer conducted by film critic Michel Ciment); Fermière à Montfaucon = A farmer in Montfaucon (a 1968 documentary that follows a woman farmer (14 min.)).

Audience:

MPAA rating: Not rated.

Physical Description:

4 videodiscs (447 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (26 pages : color illustrations ; 19 cm).

Physical Characteristics:

4 3/4 in.; polychrome

Audio Characteristics:

digital; optical; mono; sound

Film Characteristics:

1.66:1; 1.37:1; wide screen; full screen

Digital Characteristics:

video file; Blu-ray; region A

Call Numbers:

TAL 1990 BLU

ISBNs:

9798886071061

Other Standard Numbers:

Universal Product Code: 715515292214
Publisher Number, Criterion Collection: CC3523BD (container)
Publisher Number, Criterion Collection: CC3523BD-1 (disc)
Publisher Number, Criterion Collection: CC3523BD-2 (disc)
Publisher Number, Criterion Collection: CC3523BD-3 (disc)
Publisher Number, Criterion Collection: CC3523BD-4 (disc)

OCLC Numbers:

1427676530